Avoid Parade Injuries

Published: Thursday, October 21, 1999

A WONDERFUL TEXAS TECH homecoming parade was marred Saturday by injuries suffered by four people during two incidents, while floats loaded with students were returning to a parking lot at the Memorial Civic Center.

Tiffany Milsaps, 17, and Laura McArthur, 18, fell off the Kappa Upsilon Chi/Sigma Phi Lambda float when it stopped on 19th Street to prevent a giant Double T from snagging a power line. Ms. Milsaps broke both legs and her pelvis, while Ms. McArthur, who was trapped beneath a wheel for about 30 minutes, suffered a dislocated pelvis.

Adrienne Hamil and Lauren Hunt, both 18 and members of Delta Gamma sorority, were injured when a sign aboard the float on which they were riding fell on top of them as their float was traveling on 17th Street. Ms. Hamil suffered a bruised jaw, while Ms. Hunt suffered a leg injury.

For years, homecoming floats have used busy streets to return riders without incident to the Memorial Civic Center after the parade, and we find it unfortunate that these incidents occurred this year. But it was just a matter of time before someone was injured. Floats don't mix well with post-parade traffic, and most floats are not equipped with safety barricades and hand rails for standing passengers.

That is why we recommend that in future parades those who ride on floats be required to disembark at the end of the route. Also, we'd like to see the parade organizers require the installation of safety barricades and hand rails aboard floats.

Knowing these safety measures pose inconveniences on organizations that enter the parade, we recommend them in the interest of the multitude of students who ride aboard these floats. Tragedies like those that occurred Saturday can be avoided.